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JFK overcame obstacles to win state crown

MICHAEL G TAYLOR | WARREN TRIBUNE CHRONICLE-12-03-16; 2nd qtr, JFK's #44 Jacob Coates and #7 Evan Boyd stops Minster's #4 Issac Schmiesing for a loss. OHSAA D7 Football ChampionshipJohn F Kennedy Eagles vs Minster Wildcats at Ohio Stadium on OSU Campus in Columbus, OH

COLUMBUS — Jeff Bayuk’s eyes began to well up with tears – tears of joy. The John F. Kennedy head football coach, players, assistant coaches and school officials down on the Ohio Stadium field began to hug one another after all zeros were visible on the north and south end zone scoreboards.

JFK 24, Minster 6.

Kennedy’s football team hammered Minster, a team which beat powerhouse Kirtland in the Division VI title game two seasons ago, in Saturday’s Division VII state championship — the first for the Eagles since winning the Division IV state title in 1991.

Defense held the balanced Minster defense to 179 yards with equal distribution of passing and receiving.

JFK’s offensive line found holes in a Wildcat defense that beat back a dominant Coldwater team in the regular season. Minster came back from a 2-4 start to make the Division VII title game.

MICHAEL G TAYLOR | WARREN TRIBUNE CHRONICLE-12-03-16; JFK's Head Coach Jeff Bayuk gets emotional as he speaks with his team. OHSAA D7 Football Championship John F Kennedy Eagles vs Minster Wildcats at Ohio Stadium on OSU Campus in Columbus, OH

Eagles senior running back Evan Boyd took advantage with 36 carries for 166 yards and two second-half scores. The yards were a Division VII state championship record.

“I listened to their coach’s interview in their teleconference,” Bayuk said. “Guys that start out 2-4 and make it to a championship game, those are guys that should be coaches of the year.

“They very much deserve applause for the way that they played and the way they came all the way back into the playoffs.”

Kennedy had its share of overcoming this season.

Star defensive back, wide receiver and kick/punt returner Jacob Coates broke his collarbone Week 2 against LaBrae. He didn’t return until Week 10.

MICHAEL G TAYLOR | WARREN TRIBUNE CHRONICLE-12-03-16; 4th qtr, JFK's #7 Evan Boyd out runs the Minster's defense on his way to a 39 yard TD. OHSAA D7 Football ChampionshipJohn F Kennedy Eagles vs Minster Wildcats at Ohio Stadium on OSU Campus in Columbus, OH

His state-level track speed was missed on offensive and special team, but not as much as his quickness to shut down teams in the Kennedy defensive secondary.

“We have a lot of confidence in No. 44,” Bayuk said. “He’s got great speed. He’s won a state championship in the 200 in track. Runner up in the 100. If somebody pops outside, they’re not going that far if he’s on that side of the field. Then, they’re going a little further if he’s on the other side of the field. We had a lot of confidence in his ability to run people down.”

Then there’s Ross Nocera, the 5-foot-8, 190-pound senior who had a couple of touchdowns in the Region 25 final against Norwalk St. Paul, including a defensive score.

“Popped shoulder out last week (against Harvest Prep) and couldn’t play fullback,” Bayuk said. “Played maybe a half dozen plays. It’s been popping in and out all week. The doctors got him a brace.

“There was no way we were keeping this kid off the field on defense. We did everything we could. We had a sophomore fullback who did a great job for us, Issac Hadley. This kid is the heartbeat of our team. We were very worried we were going to come into this game without him. He did a great job. I’m very proud of him.”

JFK should be proud of its coach, Bayuk. He’s had a long career in high school coaching. This was his first go round at a state championship.

“I started coaching in 1978 as an assistant,” he said. “This is the first final I’ve been to as a head coach or assistant coach. You can imagine how exciting this was for us for me personally and my family. It’s very special.

“I’m 58 years old. It’s been a long haul.”

It’s a long season for JFK with 15 being the most games the Eagles have played in a season.

There are key seniors graduating in 2017, who made the team push all the way to the state title game. There are some returning for next season.

How will the Eagles fair in 2017? Those questions are for mid summer.

Now, it’s time to celebrate the JFK state championship – the first one in Trumbull County since the Eagles won that state title in 1991.

It was a reason for Bayuk, JFK players, assistants and school officials on the Ohio Stadium field to shed tears of joy.

It was an impressive performance by the Division VII state champions.

“This shows what we’re all about, Blue Pride,” JFK senior lineman Bruce Johnson said.

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